Dr Peter Laslo

Profile

Dr Peter Laslo's main research interests are in understanding the molecular aetiology of myeloid-based diseases.

Dr Laslo obtained his PhD in Australia studying Immunology with particular emphasis in the T-cell response during organ transplantation. His first post-doctoral training was in neuropathology and the disease AML where his focus was the understanding of why of two neuronal populations one was susceptible to the pathology and the other resistant.

Dr Laslo began his second post-doctoral training at the University of Chicago in the field of molecular haematology. Here, the primary goal of his research focused on understanding the gene regulatory network that regulates myeloid development. His findings identified the molecular mechanism for the onset and resolution of mixed lineage patterns of gene expression within myeloid progenitors. He was among the first to accurately depict these molecular events and to assemble a mathematical model of this network.

Dr Laslo established his independent research group at the Leeds Institute of Cancer Studies and Pathology in 2008. Naturally inspired by his training, the primary focus of the lab is to analyse the gene regulatory networks within the hematopoietic system and to develop dynamic models to depict these genetic processes. These networks consist of transcription factors, epigenetic regulators as well as miRNA molecules that, in co-operation with one another, will regulate cell fate choices. It is important to understand these networks as any dysregulation in one or more of these regulators can contribute to the pathology of myeloid disorders including leukemias, chronic inflammation and bone disorders. 

Responsibilities

• Lead Post-Graduate Research Tutor

Research interests

Myeloid cells constitute the innate arm of the vertebrate immune system and arise from haematopoietic stem cells and are committed to their cell fate through a series of lineage restrictions regulated by a gene regulatory network. This gene network consists of transcription factors components of the epigenetic machinery as well as miRNA molecules that, in co-operation with one another, will direct progenitors to adopt and differentiate along a certain lineage program. By virtue of their obligatory function, dysregulation in the activity of these regulatory factors can contribute to the pathogenesis of myeloid disorders such as acute myelomonocytic leukemias, chronic inflammation and bone disorders.

To understand the molecular aetiology of myeloid-associated diseases it is imperative to first study and model the network that regulates normal development. Equipped with this crucial understanding we can then begin to decipher what, how and why things have gone wrong in their pathology.

Specifically, our research focuses on three main themes:

• Transcriptional regulation of myeloid development: Normal and Diseased Haematopoiesis
• Tyrosine Kinase Oncogenes and Drug Resistance
• Understanding the contribution of macrophages to breast cancer development 

Qualifications

• B.Sc. (Hons, 1st Class), University of Adelaide, 1992
• PhD, University of Adelaide, 1999

Student education

Teach on the Stem Cell Module for the MSc Molecular Medicine

Research groups and institutes

• Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James's

Projects

<li><a href="//phd.leeds.ac.uk/project/72-limr-haematology:-oncogenic-reprogramming-of-immune-cells">LIMR Haematology: Oncogenic reprogramming of immune cells</a></li> <li><a href="//phd.leeds.ac.uk/project/1649-limr-haematology:-oncogenic-reprogramming-of-immune-cells;-novel-mechanism-for-drug-resistance-in-leukaemia">LIMR Haematology: Oncogenic reprogramming of immune cells; novel mechanism for drug resistance in leukaemia</a></li>